Convener of the Amazons Tennis Tournament, Ambassador Obayemi Joy, has shared the vision behind the growing women’s tennis competition as preparations intensify for the 2026 edition, scheduled to take place in Lagos.
According to the organizer, the tournament was born out of a deep passion for tennis and a desire to create greater opportunities for women in a sport traditionally dominated by men. Over time, the event has grown significantly and is now regarded as one of the largest female tennis competitions in Africa, attracting players from various clubs across Nigeria.
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Obayemi explained that the initiative focuses specifically on women because many tennis clubs and competitions have historically seen higher male participation.
By creating a dedicated platform for female players, the tournament aims to strengthen the women’s tennis community while raising the level of competition.
The event is also intentionally aligned with the celebration of International Women’s Day, using sport as a platform to amplify women’s voices and highlight health challenges affecting women.
Despite its growing popularity, funding remains one of the tournament’s biggest challenges. The inaugural edition attracted 86 participants, while the upcoming 2026 edition has already recorded 124 registered players, with additional players on a waiting list.
According to the convener, many brands have shown interest in supporting the event, but most contributions come in the form of products rather than financial sponsorship. She emphasized that both financial and material support are essential to sustain the tournament’s growth.
Looking ahead, the long-term vision is to transform the Amazons Tennis Tournament into an international competition, where recreational female players from across the world can travel to Nigeria to compete for attractive prize money. Plans are also underway to introduce a ranking system to increase competitiveness and motivate players to improve their skills.
Another proposed initiative is the Amazons Junior Championship, a dedicated tournament aimed at developing Nigeria’s top-ranked young female players and creating more competitive opportunities for girls in tennis.
The 2026 edition of the Amazons Tennis Tournament will take place on March 28, 2026, at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, opposite TBS, Onikan, Lagos. Activities will begin at 9:00 a.m., and admission to the event is free for the public.
Through sustained partnerships and support, the organizers hope to continue expanding the tournament, encourage more women and young girls to embrace tennis, and potentially host two major women’s tournaments each year in the future.
